Scottish Executive

Air Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to address the cost of travel on lifeline air services between the Scottish mainland and the Northern Isles.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is committed to the maintenance of affordable links to island communities. Our subsidy to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd results in lower costs to airlines than if the full economic costs were applied.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to have a public service obligation placed on the Inverness to Gatwick air route and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Sarah Boyack: The imposition of a public service obligation on a cross-BORDER air service is a matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Executive will, however, continue to work with Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on how best the Inverness-Gatwick route can be safeguarded.

Canals

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the major developments in the canal system in Scotland, in particular the Millennium Link, what steps it is taking to ensure that the relevant authorities have given adequate attention to the potential increased risks to the public in the area of water and leisure activity.

Sarah Boyack: British Waterways Scotland who manage Scotland’s canals, including the Millennium Link project, have undertaken and are continuing to undertake a number of different initiatives which promote safe and responsible use of inland waterways including the offer of safety presentations to all schools within walking distance of the Forth & Clyde and Union canals.

  The Millennium Link project should not increase the potential risk to the public in the area of water and leisure activity as the project will only increase the length of the lowland canal system by 5 km to 110 km and most of this increase has been built away from significant centres of population. The major exception is the 1.7 km of new canal cut through Wester Hailes in Edinburgh. Here the design of the channel has taken particular account of the need to minimise risk and has been constructed to operate at the minimum possible depth of 1.1 m and side steps have been introduced where possible to create a shallow edge of 0.3 m. The expected increased usage of these canals including towpath activities such as walking, angling and cycling will also reduce the possibility of an accident going unnoticed.

Central Heating

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has appointed a managing agent to administer its central heating programme in the private sector and, if so, who the agent is and what the total value is of the grants to be administered by the agent.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when a managing agent will be appointed to administer its central heating programme.

Jackie Baillie: Eaga Partnership Ltd were appointed to administer the central heating programme on 29 August 2001. Eaga were awarded the contract in accordance with EC public procurement rules. They will have a budget of £9 million for the programme in 2001-02.

Children

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the consultation last year on the physical punishment of children in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: We published our consultation paper in February 2000 and received 220 responses. Many incorporated the views of numbers of parents and children. We are grateful for all the careful thought and analysis that went into the responses. I have placed a full analysis in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre and on the Scottish Executive website.

  In our paper we did not propose a complete ban on physical punishment of children. We intend to retain the right of parents to reasonably chastise their children. But we propose a clearer definition of what is "reasonable" and further express restrictions on what is allowed. The responses we have received generally support this approach.

  Of the responses

  43 per cent supported our proposals in general

  34 per cent called for a complete ban on physical punishment

  17 per cent did not support any change in the law, and argued for the right of parents to discipline their children as they see fit

  6 per cent did not state clear views.

  Taking the responses as a whole, 77 per cent of those who replied clearly supported further legal restrictions.

  A clear signal must be sent to parents and other adults caring for children that physical punishment must be kept within strict limits and only used as a last resort.

  Based on the views of those who commented, we will set out in statute the factors the courts must take into account when determining whether punishment was "reasonable". They will include:

  the nature, context of the punishment;

  its duration and frequency;

  its physical and mental effects, and

  the sex, age and state of health of the child.

  This will be a non-exhaustive list so that other factors could be taken into account depending on the circumstances of the case.

  We propose to prohibit absolutely blows to the head, shaking, and the use of implements. We also propose to ban physical punishment of children up to and including a certain age, and we propose this be the age of two. Up to this age, it is very doubtful that a child would understand why he or she was being punished, and if the child was in any imminent danger it should be possible for an adult to restrain or remove the child physically from the danger rather than punish him or her.

  Finally, in accordance with the overwhelming response by those involved in these services, we will prohibit corporal punishment in childcare centres, by childminders and in non-publicly funded pre-school centres. This is consistent with existing policy for schools and publicly funded pre-school centres and will provide welcome clarity for employees in these settings. The change in the law will not cover baby-sitters or nannies in the home. We believe that parents should have the right to set the ground rules for discipline in the home and that these should be observed consistently by all those who care for children in their own home.

  We will seek an early opportunity for legislation.

  The primary consideration in decisions about children is the welfare of the child, and we recognise the fundamental role of parents in this. We hope that our proposals will protect children and encourage all parents to reflect carefully on their right to administer punishment to their children.

  Physical violence is the antithesis of the behaviour we want to promote in children. If we want children to behave well, we should set them a good example. A child should have explanations, a clear disciplinary framework and sanctions other than physical punishment wherever possible. Our proposed changes should discourage casual or excessive use of physical punishment or its use for inappropriate purposes. If children receive a good example from thoughtful parents, this should help lessen levels of violence in society at large.

Cities

Mr Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can supply further details about the arrangements for the review of Scotland’s cities.

Angus MacKay: The Sounding Board, which I chair, and the academic panel have now been established to inform the work of the review, which is due to report in the new year.

  The review will be open and participative. Peter Peacock and I will be visiting each of the cities over the next few months to hear local views on the challenges and opportunities facing them.

Common Services Agency

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Common Services Agency and what its annual funding is.

Susan Deacon: The remit of the Common Services Agency (CSA) is to provide, facilitate or co-ordinate essential national and regional services for the NHS in Scotland that are effective, efficient and provide value for money. In addition to its headquarters, the CSA is made up of the following divisions:

  central legal office

  information & statistics division

  national services division

  practitioner services division

  Public Health Institute of Scotland

  Scottish centre for infection and environmental health department

  Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

  Scottish Healthcare Supplies.

  The CSA received a revenue allocation of £124.5 million for the financial year 2001-02.

Construction Industry

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address any skills shortages in the building industry in the light of current requirements and any increased demand which may result from housing stock transfer.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In January 2001 the Scottish Executive commissioned research designed to help maximise employment opportunities from housing stock transfer. The research will establish where construction skills gaps exist and what might be done to address them. A report is expected in September 2001 after which the Executive will consider the findings. The Executive maintains dialogue with the construction industry on skills and other issues through regular meetings with the Scottish Construction Industry Group. The group will be consulted on the research findings and appropriate action in due course.

Culture

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the artistic director of Scottish Ballet and whether it has any plans for future meetings.

Allan Wilson: There has been no formal meeting between the Executive and Scottish Ballet’s present artistic director and there are no current plans for such.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has in relation to the provision of rehabilitation facilities for drug users.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our strategic objectives for rehabilitation are to provide integrated care, treatment and rehabilitation pathways for individuals, and to expand and create key services such as day and residential services and home care.

  We have increased resources to local authorities for drug rehabilitation substantially. With effect from 1 April this year we increased provision by £6.8 million a year for this purpose.

  Decisions at local level on spending the additional money are being taken with the involvement and agreement of the relevant drug action teams, taking into account other local spending decisions. This is to ensure an integrated approach to the provision of all drug services across the drug action team area, and to provide best value.

Education

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to publish information about individual learning accounts in languages other than English.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) is currently evaluating the need for support in languages other than English for individual learning accounts and other aspects of its business. If justified it will introduce such support as and when required.

Education

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to publish information about individual learning accounts in formats other than text.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) is working with the Royal National Institute for the Blind to improve accessibility for prospective individual learning account users. SUfI is developing audio tapes and braille packs of selected documents. It is also working with LEAD (Linking Education and Disability) Scotland to develop its on-going strategy for supplementing existing services and for training of learning advisers in its call centre.

Employment

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual cost is of administering and delivering employment training, skills or other related initiatives, including money spent by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other relevant bodies.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Information on the total annual cost is not available.

  Expenditure on skills and learning by the enterprise networks is expected to amount to £121.508 million in 2001-02. This figure excludes costs of administration.

Employment

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) the total number of people, (b) the long-term unemployed and (c) the young unemployed who left the unemployment register during the last year are currently categorised as being in employment, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There is no available information on whether people who left the claimant count during the past year are currently in employment.

  Data on the total number of people who left the claimant count, where the reason for leaving at that time was that they had found work, are available on the NOMIS database through the Parliament’s reference centre.

European Union

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16757 by Susan Deacon on 31 July 2001, how and by whom the UK representatives on the EU Social Protection Committee will be informed of Scottish Executive interests; what these interests are, and how these interests will be conveyed to the committee if these interests do not concur with those of the UK.

Mr Jack McConnell: Arrangements for liaison between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive on EU issues are set out in the Concordat on co-ordination of EU policy issues. Discussions with the UK Government on issues of interest to the Scottish Executive are normally conducted on a confidential basis.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made for it, Scottish farmers, rural communities and others in Scotland to give evidence to and participate in the inquiries into the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak announced by Her Majesty’s Government.

Ross Finnie: It will be for those taking forward each of the inquiries to determine who will be invited to provide evidence and information. One would expect a wide range of views to be sought but with variations in participation depending upon the remit of each inquiry.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in setting the terms of reference of the inquiries into the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak announced by Her Majesty’s Government.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has been involved from the early stages of discussion about what format and direction post-FMD inquiries might take. The Executive has been fully consulted on the terms of reference for the lessons learned review and the Royal Society inquiry.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider setting up a separate public review of the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland in addition to the inquiries announced by Her Majesty’s Government.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has no plans to set up a separate review of the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland given the series of inquiries already announced, including a fully independent study by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) regarding the payment, as a matter of urgency, of sums owed by DEFRA to auctioneers, valuers and others who were involved in the valuation and cull of livestock during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Ross Finnie: We are in the process of making payments to valuers in Scotland on behalf of DEFRA. In other cases which are disputed we are in discussion with DEFRA about representations we have received, but final decisions are a matter for DEFRA.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any new cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland as at 17 August 2001.

Ross Finnie: The last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland was on 30 May 2001. There have been no new cases of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland since that date.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use its powers under the exceptions in section C5 of the Scotland Act 1998 to prohibit the transportation of cattle carcases from England to Scotland for processing and destruction.

Ross Finnie: The transportation of carcases of cattle culled under the over thirty month scheme into Scotland for rendering has been approved by the Executive, subject to the adherence to strict biosecurity controls. The risk of disease spread from this practice is judged to be extremely low. It follows that recourse to the terms of the Scotland Act to prohibit these operations is not envisaged.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that primary health care services receive the resources they need.

Malcolm Chisholm: On 21 August, a three-year £30 million additional investment programme for primary care was announced. This will add to NHS boards’ existing and planned spend on primary care and it complements our investment of over £100 million in primary care over the next three years for NHS 24, personal medical services, public health practitioners, IM&T developments and GP practice premises and health centre developments.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether current provision for the treatment of anorexia nervosa within the NHS is uniformly accessible and appropriate to demand.

Malcolm Chisholm: "Our National Health" confirmed continued support for further development of extended mental health services. Expanded guidance for agencies will be published shortly on the best local approaches to joint, seamless care and support for those with or surviving an eating disorder to help address deficiencies where they arise.

  This Health Plan initiative has been advanced by the Mental Health and Well Being Support Group and has involved practitioners, commissioners and users of services and their carers. The support group has already published its planned focus for the coming year which includes specific consideration and review of the agency response to the coming guidance.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances in which NHS patients can be treated abroad and, if so, what these are.

Susan Deacon: There are long-standing Europe-wide negotiated arrangements for elective health care delivered in another member state. These follow established E112 procedures that include prior agreement, not least involving the clinicians in the referring and receiving facilitates. The same procedures apply for overseas patients referred under these arrangements for care in this country.

  Emergency health care is also provided on a reciprocal basis.

Health

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how patient care can be safeguarded in Aberdeen in the light of the reported financial difficulties of Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Susan Deacon: The NHS in Grampian is responsible for ensuring that health services in the area are managed effectively and are sustainable financially. The health department is working closely with the NHS in Grampian to ensure that the acute trust meets its targets under the action plan it has agreed with the health board and primary care trust. NHS leaders have given an assurance that this will be achieved. The department will continue to monitor progress in Grampian.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to compensate any patients who have contracted cytomegalovirus through contaminated blood products.

Susan Deacon: If a court finds the NHS to be negligent or in breach of statute, the NHS accepts its liability to pay damages. However, the Executive upholds the general principle of successive administrations that the NHS does not pay compensation where there is no legal basis for it being found at fault.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health care associated infections were contracted by NHS patients in each year since 1992, broken down by the health care establishment in which they were contracted.

Susan Deacon: This information is not available. The new national surveillance system which I announced on 6   August will help to provide better information in the future on the incidence of health care associated infections across Scotland.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the clinical resource and audit group, who its members are and what its annual funding is.

Susan Deacon: The remit and membership of the clinical resource and audit group can be found on the group’s website www.show.scot.nhs.uk/crag . In 2001-02 the group has a budget of £3.146 million.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network receives annually from (a) it and (b) private companies.

Susan Deacon: In 2001-02 the Clinical Resource and Audit Group grant to the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network (SIGN) was £810,000. SIGN receives no core funding from any private companies. However, it does seek sponsorship for its national meetings from private companies. In 2000-01 the total funding received was £15,000 covering 10 national meetings. The sponsorship pays for the hotel costs of the meeting and the company is allowed to have an information stand in the foyer.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the clinical standards board for Scotland and what its annual funding is.

Susan Deacon: The remit and membership of the clinical standards board for Scotland can be found on the board’s website www.clinicalstandards.org.uk . In 2001-02 the board has a budget of £3 million.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15892 by Susan Deacon on 5 June 2001, when it expects a scottish medicines consortium to be established, what its remit will be and what (a) public and (b) private funding it will receive.

Susan Deacon: The chief medical officer has asked Professor David Lawson to develop proposals for a Scottish medicines consortium. Professor Lawson hopes to complete this work in September. Until then it is not possible to be precise about the remit or budget of the proposed consortium.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15892 by Susan Deacon on 5 June 2001, when it expects the chief medical officer to conclude the work on mapping the relationships between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality.

Susan Deacon: The chief medical officer expects to complete his review in November.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15892 by Susan Deacon on 5 June 2001, whether the work on mapping the relationships between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality covers the Public Health Institute for Scotland and the Common Services Agency and, if not, what relationship each of these bodies has with each of the clinical resource and audit group, the health technology board for Scotland, the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network, the clinical standards board for Scotland and the possible Scottish medicines consortium.

Susan Deacon: The chief medical officer’s review of Scotland’s clinical effectiveness organisations includes consideration of the role of the Scottish needs assessment programme, a unit of the Public Health Institute, and the information and statistics division of the Common Services Agency.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any joint research programmes completed or currently being carried out by two or more of (a) the clinical resource and audit group, (b) the Common Services Agency, (c) the health technology board for Scotland, (d) the Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network, (e) the clinical standards board for Scotland, (f) the Public Health Institute for Scotland and (g) individual local area drug and therapeutic committees (ADTCs) or groups of ADTCs.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make drug treatment and testing orders more widely available to courts.

Mr Jim Wallace: I can today announce that funding is being provided to the local authority areas of Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Angus, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde for the purposes of establishing drug treatment and testing order schemes, leading to increased capacity for a further 200 orders to be made from 2002-03. This will allow the sheriff courts at Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth, Arbroath, Forfar, Paisley and Greenock access for the first time to drug treatment and testing orders.

Lifelong Learning

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what languages other than English information about individual learning accounts is available to the general public.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The national marketing of individual learning accounts (ILAs) is the responsibility of the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI), who took on this role when it came into being in October 2000. It initially concentrated on providing the required marketing material only in English. However, some of its call centre staff have non-English language abilities.

Lifelong Learning

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what formats other than text is information about individual learning accounts available to the general public.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The national marketing of individual learning accounts (ILAs) is the responsibility of the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI), who took on this role when it came into being in October 2000. It initially concentrated on providing the required marketing material only in text form but a text telephone is available in its call centre to assist the profoundly deaf.

  The ILA Centre, which is run by Capita Business Services Ltd, also has a role to play in making information available to the public. It offers a minicom service for people with hearing impairments. Additionally, Capita call centre operators complete forms on behalf of visually-impaired callers. The completed form is sent to the individual for a personal signature or the signature of an authorised person. Large-print versions of the forms can also be produced by Capita on demand.

Local Government

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the First Minister what progress has been made towards achieving the aim of electoral reform for local government.

Henry McLeish: The Executive’s commitment to electoral reform, made in its "working together for Scotland: a programme for Government", is underlined by its detailed and continuing considerations of the recommendations made in the renewing local democracy report.

Local Government Finance

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16363 by Angus MacKay on 11 July 2001, how much (a) East Ayrshire Council and (b) South Lanarkshire Council requested in aid under the Bellwin scheme in respect of the storms on boxing day 1998; whether the full amount requested, minus the relevant threshold, was paid, and, if not, what the reasons were for not paying the full amount requested.

Angus MacKay: The terms of the Bellwin scheme are detailed in finance circular 9/2000, a copy of which is held in the Scottish Parliament information centre (Bib. no. 14385). Under the scheme, the amount payable to a council facing an emergency is 85 per cent of the eligible costs, after a deduction of a threshold which is unique to each council. 90 per cent of this amount payable is paid to a council following approval of a claim by the Scottish Executive. The remaining 10 per cent is paid following receipt by the Executive of an audited claim.

  East Ayrshire Council claimed costs of £561,537, of which 85 per cent above the relevant threshold of £237,438 was eligible for payment. The sum of £243,352 (90 per cent of amount payable) has been paid to date. An additional deduction of around £6,000 was made to the amount claimed, as the council had claimed for insurance excesses of greater than the £100 for damage to school buildings which is allowable under the scheme.

  South Lanarkshire Council claimed costs of £873,901 of which 85 per cent above the relevant threshold of £567,166 was eligible for payment. The sum of £234,652 (90 per cent of amount payable) has been paid to date.

Local Government Finance

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16363 by Angus MacKay on 11 July 2001, what the relevant threshold amounts deducted from the eligible costs agreed with East Ayrshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council were and what the reasons are for imposing such thresholds.

Angus MacKay: The threshold amounts deducted from East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire Councils’ eligible costs were £237,438 and £567,166 respectively. Finance circular 9/2000 (Bib. no. 14385) details the scope and background of the Bellwin scheme including the reasoning behind the thresholds.

Local Government Finance

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16363 by Angus MacKay on 11 July 2001, whether it has received any requests from local authorities for the Bellwin scheme to be activated since the scheme’s use in respect of the storms on boxing day 1998 and what the reasons were for the decisions made in respect of any such requests.

Angus MacKay: Since the activation of the Bellwin scheme in 1998, requests have been made to activate the scheme following the flooding in Edinburgh and Midlothian in April and November 2000, the subsidence due to the collapse of the limestone mines in the Ferniehill area of Edinburgh in December 2000, and the heavy snowfalls in BORDERs and South Lanarkshire in February 2001. Schemes have now been activated for all of these.

Ministry of Defence

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any negotiations with the Ministry of Defence concerning the impact of possible relocation of 51 Highland Brigade headquarters from Perth and what its position is on the matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Defence matters are reserved and there have been no negotiations between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Scottish Executive concerning the possible relocation of 51 Highland Brigade HQ from Perth. I understand that a regional brigade study is being carried out under the aegis of the "Strategy for the Army" but work is at an early stage and no proposals have yet been put to MoD ministers. Roles and responsibilities of brigades are being considered as is the location of the headquarters but results from this work are not likely until later this year.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent is of any staff shortages within the NHS.

Susan Deacon: Information on vacancies for selected NHSScotland staff groups is collected annually by ISD Scotland. Latest figures show that as at 30 September 2000, 2.2 per cent of consultant posts and 3.6 per cent of medical staff grade posts were vacant for six months or more. At March 2000, 0.6 per cent of all nursing posts had been vacant for over three months.

NHS Waiting Times

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the First Minister what further details on NHS waiting times will become available as a result of the decision to refocus from waiting lists to waiting times.

Henry McLeish: Already, more information about waiting times and activity is available than ever before on the Scottish Health on the Web (SHOW) website. As my colleague the Minister for Health recently announced, the health department has commissioned ISD Scotland to put in new improved methods which will provide further information on waiting at local and national level across the NHS. We will begin to see this coming on stream next year.

New Deal

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the relationships its ministers and officials have, in connection with the new deal, with (a) Ministers and officials of Her Majesty’s Government and (b) each of the organisations involved in delivering this programme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the new deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.

  The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the new deal. The Concordat establishing the framework for co-operation between Scottish and UK ministers has been in place since 1999. The Scottish Executive is also in regular contact with the organisations involved in delivering the new deal.

Planning

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has received concerning planning applications in Glasgow Kelvin constituency.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has received nine representations concerning a proposed residential development at Park Quadrant in Glasgow Kelvin constituency.

Police

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to reports that police forces have been secretly filming members of the Scottish Socialist Party at demonstrations and carrying out undercover surveillance of these and other protesters and whether it will give an assurance, if such activities have occurred, that they will not occur again.

Mr Jim Wallace: The use of covert surveillance is a matter for relevant public authorities, including police forces. Its use, oversight and associated complaints procedure is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. Under section 23 of the 2000 Act, any person who is aggrieved by any conduct to which the Act applies may complain to the investigatory powers tribunal if they believe that the conduct took place in relation to them or their property in challengeable circumstances.

Pre-School Education

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in relation to the provision of nursery education for three-year-olds.

Nicol Stephen: The proportion of eligible three-year-olds receiving pre-school education currently stands at 80 per cent. The target of a nursery place for all three-year-olds whose parents want it is expected to be met by April 2002.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16943 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 August 2001, whether it will place copies of the protocol on the release of information to the media about escaped or absconding prisoners in the Scottish Parliament information centre.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes. I am placing a copy of the media protocol agreed by ACPOS and SPS in the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. no. 15579).

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers were employed in Scottish Prison Service prisons in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 to date and what the percentage turnover of prison officers was in each of these periods.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The figures are:

  


Year 
  

No. of officers at 1 April 
  

% turnover in year* 
  



1999 
  

3,091 
  

2.9% 
  



2000 
  

2,893 
  

3.7% 
  



2001 
  

2,800 
  

2.0% 
  



  *Turnover is based on voluntary resignations, and does not include retirals.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many misconduct reports were lodged at each Scottish Prison Service prison in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not readily available in the form requested. However, details of breaches of discipline committed by type, and by male and female prisoners and young offenders, are published annually in the SPS Annual Report. A copy of the Annual Report for 1999-2000 is available in the Parliament’s reference centre and the SPS website. The Annual Report for 2000-01 is not yet published.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to the City of Edinburgh Council for an alternative strategy to the city of Edinburgh rapid transit scheme; when any such resources will be available, and whether any special conditions will be attached in respect of any such resources.

Sarah Boyack: The City of Edinburgh Council has applied for funding for part of its alternative strategy to the city of Edinburgh rapid transit scheme from the fourth round of the public transport fund.

  I expect to make announcements on all bids to this round of the public transport fund by the end of October.

Public Transport

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have implemented a free local bus travel scheme for elderly and disabled people.

Sarah Boyack: Local authorities have discretionary powers to establish concessionary travel schemes for their areas, or jointly with other local authorities. I understand that Fife Council, Clackmannanshire Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council have established travel schemes which include an element of free local bus travel for the elderly and people with disabilities.

  From October 2002 all pensioners and disabled people will benefit from free local bus travel within existing scheme boundaries for journeys outwith the morning peak.

Public Transport

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities it has consulted or sought advice from in relation to implementation of a national scheme for free local bus travel for elderly and disabled people.

Sarah Boyack: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has signalled Scottish local authorities’ agreement to enhance existing discretionary concessionary travel schemes to provide free local bus travel within existing scheme boundaries for journeys outwith the morning peak for the elderly and disabled people in October 2002. The Scottish Executive has made additional resources available to fund this enhancement.

  I have established an implementation working group, comprising representatives from the Executive, COSLA, Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers and the bus industry, to advise on the detailed administrative implementation issues.

Rail Network

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in considering proposals to reopen the Waverley line.

Sarah Boyack: Scottish BORDERs Council has appointed consultant Turner & Townsend to lead the project towards its next major stage. This is to seek parliamentary approval for the promotion, construction and reopening of the line to the central Scottish BORDERs.

Roads

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from the Highways Agency about a start date for construction of the M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill extension.

Sarah Boyack: The Highways Agency have provided the Scottish Executive with an outline programme. Subject to the continuing availability of funding and successful completion of statutory procedures, they expect construction to start in 2004-05.

Schools

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to promote the use of school grounds as an education resource available to both school pupils and the community.

Mr Jack McConnell: Yes. Scottish ministers encourage the fullest possible use of all local resources. While decisions on the use of school grounds are matters for the education authorities and individual schools, I fully support the principle that school facilities generally should be accessible for community purposes.

Scotland Act 1998

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3640 by Mr Tom McCabe on 28 June 2001, on what date it last discussed the operation of the Scotland Act 1998 with Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government about a wide range of matters, including the operation of the Scotland Act 1998. In accordance with the principles underpinning the Memorandum of Understanding, such discussions are normally conducted on a confidential basis.

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13022 by Henry McLeish on 31 July 2001, whether any other employees of the Scottish Executive receive an employer’s contribution to their pension exceeding 15 per cent and, if so, which employees these are.

Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive pays employer’s pension contributions in the form of accruing superannuation liability charges (ASLC’s) for staff who are members of the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS). The employer’s contribution exceeds 15 per cent for all staff earning in excess of £32,501 per annum.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Scottish Executive staff who are currently on secondment to other organisations are having their salaries or other remuneration paid by (a) it and (b) the receiving organisation and what the total cost to the Scottish consolidated fund is.

Angus MacKay: The number of staff currently on secondment to other organisations who are having their salary costs met by the Scottish Executive is 17. The number of staff currently on secondment who are having their salaries met by the receiving organisation is 91. The total cost to the Scottish consolidated fund in financial year 2001-02 will be £434,970.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Scottish Executive staff who were on loan to other organisations at any time in the period since May 1999 had their salaries or other remuneration while on loan paid by (a) it and (b) the receiving organisation and what the total cost to the Scottish consolidated fund was.

Angus MacKay: The total number of staff on loan to other organisations at any time in the period May 1999 to date is 61. Staff on loan move to the pay systems of the receiving organisation with full salary costs met by that organisation. There is no cost to the Scottish consolidated fund.

Scottish Executive Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Scottish Executive staff who were on secondment to other organisations at any time in the period since May 1999 had their salaries or other remuneration while on secondment paid by (a) it and (b) the receiving organisation and what the total cost to the Scottish consolidated fund was.

Angus MacKay: The number of staff on secondment to other organisations in the period May 1999 to July 2001 who have had their salary costs met by the Scottish Executive is 27. The number of staff on secondment to other organisations during this period who have had their salaries met by the receiving organisation is 126. The total cost to the Scottish consolidated fund was £1,068,990.

Sustainable Development

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the ministerial group on sustainable Scotland was last convened; what was discussed; when it will next meet, and what will be on the agenda.

Ross Finnie: The ministerial group on sustainable Scotland last met on 31 July. Summaries of its discussions are placed on the sustainable Scotland website: http://www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk /. The group will meet again on 12 September to discuss its work programme for the coming year.

Teacher Training

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the review of initial teacher education since the publication of the first stage report on 9 July 2001.

Mr Jack McConnell: Copies of the "Report of the First Stage of the Review of Initial Teacher Education" were widely circulated to stakeholders, along with a short consultation paper seeking responses by 21 September 2001. Once responses have been received and considered we will put together an action plan which will target the key areas for implementation.